Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 12, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
10:00

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Interferons in melanoma

S S Agarwala1, J M Kirkwood

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, PA 15213-2582, USA.

Current Opinion in Oncology
|March 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Interferon-alpha shows promise for high-risk melanoma patients, improving survival in adjuvant therapy. Combination therapies are being investigated to enhance treatment effectiveness for metastatic melanoma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Interferons (IFNs) are proteins investigated for cancer therapy.
  • Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is extensively studied for melanoma treatment.
  • Current research explores IFN-alpha combinations to improve response rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Interferon-alpha in melanoma treatment.
  • To assess the role of IFN-alpha in both metastatic and adjuvant settings.
  • To explore combination therapies involving IFNs for melanoma.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and treatment outcomes for Interferon-alpha in melanoma.
  • Analysis of response rates in metastatic melanoma treated with IFN-alpha.
  • Evaluation of survival data from adjuvant therapy trials, such as E1684.

Main Results:

  • IFN-alpha yields responses in approximately 16% of metastatic melanomas.
  • Positive results from trial E1684 demonstrate improved survival in high-risk adjuvant melanoma patients treated with IFN-alpha.
  • IFN-gamma shows limited efficacy in metastatic and high-risk melanoma but is effective for locoregional disease.

Conclusions:

  • Maximally tolerated doses of IFN-alpha are recommended.
  • IFN-alpha offers a brighter outlook in the adjuvant setting for high-risk melanoma.
  • Further research is needed on sequencing, administration, and toxicity reduction for IFNs in melanoma treatment.

More Related Videos

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo08:19

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

Published on: July 20, 2019

Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine09:15

Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine

Published on: February 24, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...